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Best EASports boxing effort to date, some missed potential.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 17 / 17
Date: April 10, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is the first boxing game I've played where your opponents definitely have their own style and approach. As gamers, we make certain assumptions about the limitations of AI in console games. Generally speaking, after you've played a few hours, you can pick up on the patterns and approaches the computer uses. In a game like this, you go up against guys of different sizes, shapes, speed, they have some of their own special moves, but really they're just doing the same thing. So imagine my surprise after my first three fights, all against opposition who were willing to largely plant their feet and brawl, when the next guy did something completely different. He didn't swing much, relied largely on the jab, and kept his distance. I thought it was odd, but just went about the MO I had already established. It was completely ineffective. I'd get good shots in now and again, but his running would allow him to largely recover from the damage. This all suddenly changed in the 4th round, when he and I both realized my boxer was fatigued. I had taken 4 swings for every one of his, and I was sucking wind. Suddenly, my opponent wasn't running anymore. He went toe to toe, and made good use of how much I had slowed down. I ended up losing that fight by decision, but I was excited that this fighter had done something completely different. Ropeadope. I've seen boxers change their approach mid-match, depending on how damaged I am, how much they are, how fatigued either of us is. I've had fights that were a walk in the park, early 1st round knockouts, and I've had fights that have gone the distance. I've put a guy on the canvas twice in one round, only for him to seemingly follow his trainer's advice, and come back to knock me down. In the past, once you got the edge, it was pretty much over. Now, you definitely have an advantage, but he (or you) definitely can come back. I've found that as in real life, different opponents have different weaknesses, and you've got to get in there and find them. If you end up going back for a rematch, your prior experience with that fighter is going to apply to how you want to approach him. All in all, I was impressed with the thought EASports put into the diversity of opponent tactics.

I've had the game for 3-4 days now, and have probably had close to 50 fights. I'm playing mostly career mode on Medium difficulty, and while I'm certainly winning more than I'm losing, I would say that my record is a reasonable one. You schedule the fights, based on your rank, certain opponents will be made available to you. Between fights is a 4 area training mode. Heavy bag, sparring, dummy target, and trainer mitts. These are effectively mini-games that give you an opportunity to raise your skills. After a while, they can be a bit boring and repetitive, as the only thing that changes really is how many points you need to hit to get the max value of advancement points, but it's a nice way to improve your character. Time advances as you fight. Years pass, awards are given out, some boxers retire, new ones make the scene. It's a robust little world in there, more so than I was expecting. You do earn as you go, there's a fight store where you can buy new trunks, gloves, protection, entrance music and effects, and more. But these seem to be purely aesthetic. So if you really like a pair of $175,000 shoes more than a pair that's $10k, you're only paying the difference for the look. Money has no other purpose though, so no loss. I would have liked to have seen the higher value clothes actually doing something for you, even if something as subtle as turning the crowd in your favor. Tiger Woods 2004 had clothes and equipment give little boosts to your skills, the same could have been done here. Like Tiger Woods, you cross a point where you're just making your stack of money bigger with nothing to do with it. Silly perhaps, but I'd have liked to have been able to spend it on something. Lifestyle perhaps. Give boxers some sort of notoriety scale, the bigger your house, the faster your car, the more the public wants to see you in the ring against someone who might be able to take your head off. But now I'm digressing into a wishlist of features. Moving on...

The game is missing some names I would have liked to have seen. Mike Tyson, Naseem Hamed, Oscar De La Hoya, Wladimir Klitschko, I could go on but I guess you can't have everyone. There is an option to create boxers for the field, but having a reasonable facsimile of Tyson isn't quite the same thing of having him look as exact as the 'name' boxers in the game are. Roy Jones Jr. doesn't look similar to his real world counterpart, he looks exactly like him.

My last complaint is lack of online play, but we all know the situation between EA and Microsoft. Perhaps this will change in the future, but that really would have put this title over the top in terms of replayability and pure bang for the buck. As is I'm going to give it a 4 stars, perhaps on the low end of 4. Where the dings are on missed potential and no online component, rather than a problem with the game itself. It was a worthwhile purchase for me. I know my interest will wane with time, but this is something I know I'll pick back up now and again in the future to go a few rounds solo, or against someone here locally.

If you own and play other EA Sports titles, this game does tie into the gamer profile you've already created.

Addicting, but needs a few improvements.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: May 04, 2004
Author: Amazon User

There's nothing like a good fighting game. As far as the boxing itself, this is easily the best boxing game I've ever played. The computer opponents have varying styles (though the heavyweights are usually more willing to slug it out with you than the middleweights, who will run from you for a whole match, even if way down on the scorecards), the music really does fit the game (regardless of what a few other posters have said), and its' one of those games I can play for hours, either by myself or with my friends.

A few things could be better. 1) After trying for days to get used to the total punch control, I just ditched it because I could never get the hang of the uppercuts. Maybe that's just my fault, but it never seemed to work quite right. I went back to the button punching, and it's a lot easier to play now. 2) It's impossible to practice on the training modes, the place where you build up your ability points. The sparring mode is easy, so I can get tons of agility and stamina points, but I've yet to get even close to the necessary 10,000 points on the heavy bag, meaning that I can't build up any power or speed points. Very frustrating. 3) This is something in a lot of games...when you save it, too often it takes you through several screens of "are you sure?" and the like...just do it, don't tell me every step of the way. 4) A 'tournament' mode would have been nice, or just about any other kind of mode rather than single fight or career. But that's just quibbling.

A nice game, I'm sure I'll be playing it (to the annoyance of my wife) for some time.

Good, but I think better is to come...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: May 13, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game is a lot of fun, but I really think the next installment will be awesome. To me it seems like they spent a lot of time on the fighting system (which is good, except I am still having problems throwing hooks) and not enough time on adding elements to the game that make the whole experience enjoyable. You will soon get tired of the mindless random comments that your corner makes between rounds, and also the fact that so many good boxers are missing. Also, the ring girls are all the same, just with slightly different skin tones and a selection of maybe 3 different outfits or so - you will soon be hitting 'a' to get past them too. While creating your own boxer is cool, they could really have spiced the game up with some crazier hair/trunks and facial options and done without things like the distance apart that you can choose the eyes to be. Also, the soundtrack - what is up with that? There aren't that many songs, and they are all ghetto 'hip-hop' sounding tracks. You will soon get tired of hearing these songs - even if you are a big fan of the hip hop genre. All that aside, buy this game only if you love boxing - it doesn't disappoint there at all, or, wait for next year's version which is sure to be fantastic.

Suggestions for future release

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: September 19, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Fight Night is a superior, thoughtfully made, very addictive game which shines in many aspects. Rather than get into those, which have already been covered by many people, I'll mention suggestions to improve on the negative aspects for the next release. This may read as if I'm trashing the game, but in fact I love it and would like to see these small improvements made to make it even better.

1) The rap 'music' is extremely obnoxious. It probably does reflect the "urban" tastes of some boxing fans, but rap is a thing you either love or hate, so it's not a good idea to alienate so many people with it in a sports game. Thankfully, it can be turned off while boxing, but not before you suffer through P. Dummy's noise when booting it up, every time. This is the worst thing about the game by far; blatant commercialism by EA that serves no purpose. Also, they need to lose Big Tigger as the announcer. This guy has no connection with boxing whatsoever; just another brainless rapper spewing dumb homeboy-isms in a failed attempt to make the game more appealing to teenagers. Get Jimmy Lennon or Michael Buffer to do it; even Larry Merchant would be better than Tigger (although I wouldn't want to see Larry as a boxer!)

2) The "special" punches are the heart of this game, but they're essentially limited to the two that do fast and reliable damage: the lunging varieties. The rest take too long to execute. "Sledgehammer" and "home run" sound good, but your boxer will be hit with 10 punches by the time he swings, and they'll miss anyway. And they don't do any more damage than other specials. They need to equalize the speed of all the special punches, and have the expensive ones that do more damage (what's the sense of paying a hard-earned $2 million for the sledgehammer punch, when it's actually worse then all the rest?) At the very least, they should make those bigger punches have a better chance of a flash knockdown. You may not hit very often, but when you do, it does severe damage or knocks the guy down. I think that was their idea, but they didn't program it very well.

3) I can understand that licensing boxers would be expensive, in some cases. But they need to do more than fill the divisions with the exact same guys. What is Holyfield doing in LHW?? After you spend the time to work your way up in different divisions, you need a better reward than facing the same people repeatedly (and worse, when you beat them, they instantly retire, leaving you to face anonymous slobs for the rest of your career.) And where are people like Golota, Holmes, & Klitschko? Those guys would be glad to be in the game for the price of lunch at McDonalds. EA spent all their budget on rap songs, I guess. Unlockable boxers are missed too; sorry, but unlocking a rapper is just not enough to get excited about. What's next, Snoop Dog as a 300 lb knockout artist? As it is, are we supposed to be thrilled to unlock ugly tattoos, doves, or the latest hip-hop song, for meaningless walk-ins that we all skip past anyway? Terrible ideas. People want boxers in a boxing game, including women like Mia St. John & Laila Ali.

4) They almost got the boxer attributes & training right, but not quite. Too easy to get 100's in all categories, then your guy is maxed out & can't get any better WAY before he reaches the top. The heavy bag is a mindless and poorly executed idea. Also, there should be two more boxer attributes and one more training exercise. Agility is worthless; who cares how fast you walk across the ring? I suggest a Stamina rating for BOTH health & punching, and Instinct/Radar, which can be a factor in dodging (Speed should control offense only). Experience would be good too, controlling late-round fatigue. A computer boxer with high experience would have secret, small bonuses in some categories, & be an especially tough foe. That's how it is in real boxing - Lewis vs. Grant for example.

5) Since it's such an addictive game and you can create your own boxers, they need more variety in the clothing/equipment. Boxers such as Tua & Tyson favor all black trunks & shoes, but they didn't include those. Too many boring white trunks; and from the famous guys, only Holyfield has good-looking trunks. The shoe selection is awful; you can either wear tall ugly Viking boots, or "fashionable" but extremely ugly shoes. And gloves need more colors and designs. As long as they have the memory in the game to give us choices, why not redesign that section and eliminate the hideous stuff? Eliminate the tattoos, & put the designs on the gloves instead of the shoes.

6) All these people who want clinching - WHY? It's one of the worst aspects of real boxing; just watch any John Ruiz fight to see that. How can clinching possibly make this game better? That would be the same as having fighters spit out their mouthpieces, or waiting 5 minutes on a low blow. Leave that tedious stuff out. Also, they need to make the low blows more powerful. You only get 3 of 'em per fight, might as well make 'em count. Why take a chance on a DQ with a punch with no power?

Great Game with Room for Improvement

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: July 12, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Overall I have to say that I love this game. It's easily the best boxing game I've ever played. That doesn't mean that there's not things that could be better.

Pros: The graphics are very well done. The motions of the boxers are great and the venues look good. The sound is well done with some very realistic punching and crowd sounds. I personally like the total punch control, but for those who don't like it (see other reviews) there are several other controller options to choose from. The fighters in the game use different tactics that can vary depending on how the fight is going, so there is no set formula to winning.

Cons: I like the fact that the fighters show damage, but it's too uniform. First your eyes get red, then you get a cut around your eye. That's it. There could have been much more variation. Bloody or swollen noses and lips would be more realistic.

Once some opponents start to lose they begin to walk backwards around the ring, moving just as quickly backwards as you do forwards. All this while they're on the verge of going down. This can mean that you'll be chasing an opponent around for most of a round trying to land a punch or two.

Pretty much all fighters will get up on the count of 6 or 7 on the first knockdown. I've fought over 50 matches so far and have yet to see a boxer KO'd on the first or second knockdown, they always get up. A bit more realism would be nice. If you're caught with an especially powerful shot, it should be a little more difficult to get up. I've had fights where I've knocked my opponent down 7 different times before he stayed down.

Finally I think it's unfortunate that your boxer in career mode automatically retires after 20 years while still at the top of his game. Perhaps your skills could diminish as you get older making it necessary to keep training to stay in the game? Then you could decide when to retire your boxer. Go out while still on top or take a chance of losing your title? As it is now you max out your skills after a while making it pointless to keep training.

Overall this is a great game that is worth buying. Hopefully next years title will be even better with some of these problems fixed.

Best Boxing Game Ever Made

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: April 08, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I just put five dollars down to reserve the game and received a free demo disk. I have played the demo disk a total of 40 minutes and here are my observations.

First I cannot totally judge the game because the demo has inverted controls (move your stick to the right and the boxer moves left)and a close-up angle, plus it only allows a two round fight with double time. I am always perplexed as to why they screw you on a demo since ultimatley it will be the thing which may cause you to buy the game. I wish the options to change view as well as undo the invert were activated. I can see someone playing this demo for 5 minutes and giving up before truly understanding the game..just ridiculous.

That said, the mechanics of the new engine were my real area of interest. As someone who first got into videogames simply due to hoping for a great boxing game (I fell in love with 4D Boxing for the PC back in the early 90s, which is the best boxing game ever created), this game represented a hope for me after the horrid Knockout Kings 2002 in which EA produced a generic button masher with a career mode that resembles something you would find in Tecken.(I should add that Knockout Kings 2001 on PS2 is actually an awesome game that any boxing fan should purchase.)

Well, my first 10 or so rounds were spent trying to figure out the use of the total punch control. This uses one of the analog sticks as the means to throw all the punches (you can also use the buttons if you are traditional). Pushing the stick to the upper left throws a left jab. Pushing to the upper right throws a straight right. Throwing hooks, uppercuts and body blows are more complicated (the demo had no instructions)but as I played I found them to suddenly become more intuitive. The demo allows you to be either Roy Jones or James Toney with the other boxer being your opponent. I am not sure of the difficulty level, but I have not actually gotten the better of my opponent yet. But, as I have played I have begun doing better and that really gives you a sense of learning the game.

So what do I think of the new system? Well, the punching is so precise that you can bring back the ctick to throw a hook, hold the punch until your opponent throws a shot, and then time your counter. My timing still needs work, but it is very evident that this new engine will soon become so intuitive that you will truly feel like you have total control. This is the first boxing game in which counter punchers can win a fight. I am very interested in playing as Winky Wright as I feel this type of control is perfect for him.

I have to admit to being skeptical on the new total control system, thinking that not using any buttons would be awkward and less fluid. I was totally wrong. In fact, in one fight I went back to using the buttons (each is assigned a punch like in previous games)and felt much more awkward. It was simply amazing how fast the new control won me over.

So I am very happy to report (after the disastrous KO Kings 2002) EA is back in the boxing business. Rather that simply giving us a generic boxing game they have created a product which truly make beomce a landmark in boxing video games. I have to stress I have not played the final product, and do not know how good the career mode is, but based on my initial tests I would reccomend this game to anyone interested in a game in which you actually have to think and not button mash. Very impressive!

Fight Night - A knockout of a game.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 13, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Had this for the past week now and have to say it's probablary the best boxing game out there. Graphics are good, most of the boxers look spot on. Gameplay is unique with the TPC (total punch control) which makes the game more tactical and harder than the standard 'button mash' of the typical fighting game.
I found it a little hard at first but am warming to it. The CAB (create a boxer) is a nice feature and allows you to create fighters that were not included in the game ie Mike Tyson, Danny Green etc. You can take your own creation or one of the in game boxers and take them through an entire career. You also get to pick the weight division you wish to fight in.
With the mode you must schedule your fights, train, buy new gear if you wish and of course fight your way up the rankings towards a title belt. To any boxing fan the game is quite addictive and a good buy to the boxing and sports fan alike.
Oh for the record I created my own boxer in the Middleweight division and have 20 wins and 6 losses with 9 KO's.

The only things that I would like to see changed (maybe in Fight Night 2005) is when buying new gloves, boots etc that they added to your skills a little as in Tiger Woods golf.
Also the availability to practise some of the training modes, the heavy bag in particular is annoying.
And as already mentioned clinching should be included.

All in all a quite enjoyable game. If your a boxing fan go get it, if not hire for a couple of days to test it out.

Boxing at its finest!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: June 15, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I rented this game the other night and I cannot put it down. There are so many features that make this game a great boxing game. It is no longer a "button-masher", as you need precise control with the innovative punch control. You need the finesse to turn the knob to coordinate specific attacks of jabs, uppercuts and hooks. It takes some time to get used to, but once you do, it creates a better playing experience. I would say practice if you can't get it because it helps. You can always coordinate body shots and face shots. Your boxer has full 360 degrees of bobbing and weaving, and 360 degrees of blocking. Not only does it have the all included offense, but the key to victory is coordinating the perfect defense on blocking all types of punches.

Included with the exhibition matches, there is the long talked about career mode, which is by far the best of the game. Once you turn off the xbox this feature makes you turn it back on. Just as in Tiger Woods 2004 you can create a boxer to look just like you with tons of features to fully customize him. So you create a boxer and bring him up the ranks. Before each fight you have the oppurtunity of training him in four modes (Heavy Bag, Sparring, Training Mitts, and the Combo Dummy). These missions allow you to get points for increasing your attributes. I am currently 11-1 with a loss by decision and 11 KO's. Each boxer has its own unique boxing style, so you must coordinate your punches differently with each different boxer. Thats what makes the career mode so challenging. The AI is very impressive, and does not do the same things over and over. One minute he is running around the ring, and the next he is comboing you to the mat.

The only quam I have with the game is the store. You earn money by winning fights in career mode. The gloves, shorts, and shoes are all for show, they do not help to increase your attributes, they are purly for show. Also career mode allows for many things to be unlocked such as music, rings, outfits, and different suits for the girls.

In the ring movement can be inverted to your liking from either the camera, or the ring. Its incredible how you can pin your opponent up against the ropes and pummel him, and when you knock him out, he still bounces back on you while you still punch him. Between rounds your trainer gives you advice on how to beat him, and you can listen to your opponents trainer and try to counter his advice.

The rings are very well done with plenty of sounds and eye-candy. The menu-interface is very well done and easy to navigate. You sustain damage, and with each punch, you can see sweat and blood fly off which is pretty cool.

Overall this is a great game for the boxer and the non-boxer fan. It keeps you coming back for more, just to pummel, bob, weave and uppercut each opponent.

Coulda Been A Contender...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: September 10, 2004
Author: Amazon User

i'm loving this game. i had knockout kings for the 64 so i'm familiar w/the button mashing style of fighting games. punch, punch, punch. there is so much more strategy to fight night. i feel like the only thing holding me back is my own lack of skills. the punching system is great when you get used to it. also, as you fight different boxers you quickly (and painfully) learn that you have to adapt your style to your opponents'. i would highly recommend it.

Great game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: July 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I've yet to play Fight Night Round 2... But I must say this
is a really fun game. It has great control, great graphics
and is pretty realistic. I don't know alot about real boxing,
but this game had a decent number of characters and most of
the big names I've heard of... Of course the create a boxer
and move up the ranks is the highlight of the game. It's a
journey that can take a while, but it's worthy.

Also, you are provided with some decent fun training courses
that help build up you're endurance, power, agility and such
and that adds alittle to the game.

The boxing matches are rather fun. The block button works
very well which is a suprise to me. The punches look very
realistic with the exception of some of the special punches
which are really worthless and suck up the stamina meter
and so you are better off not bothering with them.

One thing I really like is that you can't got out there
just brawling and throwing wild punches or it will drain
the stamina meter and you will be open to some VERY nasty
upcuts and such. It can be alittle frustrating until you
figure this out.

Why not 5 stars?

Well, I believe some fighters simply jump around too much
and it was made this way to draw fights out. When you get
further up in the ranks you are force to be a cat chasing
a mouse because a number of the fighters will just dance
around with the health meter builds. And obviousally when
you chase so much it leaves you open to hits and at a huge
disadvange.

I know they did it to help draw fights out to the 7+ rounds
but it just gets on my nerves. Other than that it is a really
good game.

4 stars.

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